Why are ice cream vans old?
Discussion
Sounds a bit daft maybe... but when you see an ice cream van, chances are it's D reg or similar...
Is this because old vans are made into ice cream vans, or is it that there are health and safety/vehicle regs that prevent newer vehicles from being made into them... and if the latter, what's going to happen in 10 years' time!
Is this because old vans are made into ice cream vans, or is it that there are health and safety/vehicle regs that prevent newer vehicles from being made into them... and if the latter, what's going to happen in 10 years' time!
mnkiboy said:
I always presumed they were probably vans bought 2nd hand for a couple of grand, then converted to an ice cream van. I can't think i've ever seen a brand new ice cream van.
Is it actually possible to make a living from selling ice cream, or are they a 2nd job for most sellers?
Many of them dont just sell Ice Cream Is it actually possible to make a living from selling ice cream, or are they a 2nd job for most sellers?
And the old van
There are new vans but these tend to be static at shows as they are the profitable pitches. The number of new vans converted every year is decline as is the industry as a whole so to save money older vans are kept going.
I doubt there are many people who want to be paying off a £40k plus vehicle without a very good pitch or event presence so the ones you see “doing the rounds”.
I doubt there are many people who want to be paying off a £40k plus vehicle without a very good pitch or event presence so the ones you see “doing the rounds”.
Good point - never really thought about it until now.
I like our local one, he plays the music to Dad's army, the shufflers love it!
I just guessed they were old because it can't be a very high profit income, unless you are doing big shows... I may well be wrong!
Just found this old smoker... 4 grand!!?! Its a V-reg. I was thinking more like £400 and throw in a few Mivi's and Funnyfeet:
just incase you are thinking of setting up:
http://www.cateringclassifieds.com/details.php?id=...
I like our local one, he plays the music to Dad's army, the shufflers love it!
I just guessed they were old because it can't be a very high profit income, unless you are doing big shows... I may well be wrong!
Just found this old smoker... 4 grand!!?! Its a V-reg. I was thinking more like £400 and throw in a few Mivi's and Funnyfeet:
just incase you are thinking of setting up:
http://www.cateringclassifieds.com/details.php?id=...
when my dad was selling his 07 s4, a guy whose sole job was selling icecream wanted to buy it for cash (circa 25k)
but then changed his mind and bought a q7 instead.
he had a pitch outside old trafford, reckoned he could bring in 4k every match, rain or shine.
i wonder how much of that went to the tax man???
but then changed his mind and bought a q7 instead.
he had a pitch outside old trafford, reckoned he could bring in 4k every match, rain or shine.
i wonder how much of that went to the tax man???
Edited by homerjay on Sunday 4th July 21:48
I believe it's the ice cream making machine that is incredibly expensive, not the van itself.
BTW, in the old vans, the operator always has to stoop, causing long term back problems - newer models have more headroom allowing the operator to stand up straight. My BIL had a 50% share in one some years ago so I know a bit about them - used to do country shows & make £3K/day on a hot sunny one, but the pitches are very expensive, which is why many resort to doing the rounds - & you have to deal with all these 'orible spotty kids all day trying to take the pi**
BTW, in the old vans, the operator always has to stoop, causing long term back problems - newer models have more headroom allowing the operator to stand up straight. My BIL had a 50% share in one some years ago so I know a bit about them - used to do country shows & make £3K/day on a hot sunny one, but the pitches are very expensive, which is why many resort to doing the rounds - & you have to deal with all these 'orible spotty kids all day trying to take the pi**
The do very few miles in a year, my cousin used to run one, he would do approx 3000 miles in a typical year so little point in replacing it every few years, his i think was 23 years old, he said when it needed modernising he just replaced the machines inside as that was what made him the money. Also a typical patch at a big show can cost up to £5k for a 2-3 days so making money instead of paying finance is the main aim.
My cousin has 6 ice cream vans all over Glasgow, The oldest is a V reg LDV thing. You do get newer ones, they are just a bit more expensive.
Newer ones are usually from traders and tax comes into it which puts alot off of buying them.
The most recent 3 that he bought were brand new and cost a fair bit to buy and then pay the coach builder to convert..The most recent was a 10 plate Transit. The cost for the machines etc is alot aswell but to buy a vehicle thats ready for work have higher premiums i.e Car transporters, fruit vans, converted motorhomes.
I had to drive it for one Saturday night in a dodgy area in Glasgow..Was an experience to say the least..But thats another story.
Newer ones are usually from traders and tax comes into it which puts alot off of buying them.
The most recent 3 that he bought were brand new and cost a fair bit to buy and then pay the coach builder to convert..The most recent was a 10 plate Transit. The cost for the machines etc is alot aswell but to buy a vehicle thats ready for work have higher premiums i.e Car transporters, fruit vans, converted motorhomes.
I had to drive it for one Saturday night in a dodgy area in Glasgow..Was an experience to say the least..But thats another story.
109 Bob said:
We've got an overly attractive east European girl that drives the one round near me, she does a roaring trade & you can see all the guys queuing up as soon as they here the ding dongs three streets away. 
Aye, iks the same with the sandwich vans round here. Often driven by rather attractive women.Wonder why?
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff